Improvement in thill-couplings



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIoE.

NATEANIEL r. INeALLs, or sr. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

IMPROVEMENT IN THlLL-COUPLINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 15S5944,Vdate'd JanuaryI9, 1875; lapplication filed July 6, 1874.

To allwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NATHANIEL P. IN- GALLS, of St. Paul, in the countyof Ramsey and State of Minnesota, have invented an Improved rEhill andPole Coupling, of which the following is a specification:

The invention consists in a novel and conf venient means of attachingand detaching the conplin g to and from the clip or other deviceprovided on the axle or other part of the vehiole for the connection ofthe coupling; and it further consists in a novel means of attaching thesafety-strap of a coupling to the shaft or pole-of the vehicle, wherebyit is rendered very easily detachable.

llhe principal object of the invention is to facilitate the conversionof a single-pole vehicle into one with thills.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure l is a side elevation of the thillor pole coupling, partly in section; Fig. 2, an under view, showing partof the shanks of the clip, the lower plate, and the safety-strapremoved.

A is the clip, which may be fastened to any part of the axle of avehicle. c is the projection formed on the clip, into which a hole, b',is cut or drilled for the reception ofthe shank or projecting pin b ofthe coupling-piece B. The shank is held in position bythe set-screw c inthe projection a of the clip A. The coupling-piece B may be held morefirmly in allowing the same to overlap the clip on its sides. lhe pin bof the coupling-piece B may project from either side of the same, so asto enter the enlarged portion of the clip from any direction. y

Instead of a clip, a metallic bar or plate may be employed, which isprovided with a socket and set-screw, and secured to any'convenient partof the Ve le.

The metallic end, D--.of the thill or pole is attached to the coupl11g-piece B in the usual manner by a bolt and nut at G. A plate, D,provided with a projection, e, is fastened to the thillV a shortdistance from its fulcrum. The projection e may, however, be formedsolid'with the metallic part c of the thill. A hole is vcut into theprojection e for the recep; tion of the key E, furnished on one sidewith an eye for the safety-strap to pass through, While the other sideis provided With a slot to it the head of the set-screw c for removingit from the projection c of lthe clip A. A spring, d, is fastened bysuitable means to the plate D, or to the shaft C, or, as represented inthe drawing, by the screw H, which secures the wooden part of the shaftto the metallic part. The spring d holds the key in position when pushedinto the hole in the projection ofthe plate D by springing into the eyeof the key.

Thesafety-strap passes from the key E to the plate a of the`clip A, andthrough an eye in the plate, and is joined by a buckle.

In detaching the thill or pole from the clip, the safety-strap is firstremoved by depressing the spring al and pulling the key from the hole inthe projection e of the plate D. Then the .set-screw c is loosened bymeans of the slot in one end of the key, and the couplingpiece B drawnfrom its socket in the clip A.

l claim- 1. The combination of the socket b and the pin b on thecoupling-piece B, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. rEhe combination of the slotted projection e and spring d, attachedto the shaft, and the key E, attached to the safety-strap, substantiallyas set forth.

NATHANIEL P. INGALLS.

Witnesses F. DEIscoLL, P. OBRIEN.

